NSW Marine Park Changes

[Ranger 48]

RECREATIONAL fisherman will be allowed into marine parks as part of an overhaul of the way reserves are managed by the NSW government.Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson told reporters the government was delivering on its election commitment for a "commonsense marine parks policy".Environment Minister Robyn Parker said the first change would be to open up an additional 85km of coastline to line fishing from ocean headlands and beaches."There is little or no scientific basis for preventing line fishing from land," she told reporters on Tuesday."We are immediately giving an amnesty to that."The announcement follows a period of public feedback after the release of a government-commissioned audit last year.The report recommended maintaining the current system of marine parks and increasing protection in two marine bio-regions.It also called for a new way of managing "the marine estate" of the NSW coast with the system of marine parks, fishing zones and estuaries brought under one set of laws, overseen by scientific experts.Ms Hodgkinson said two new advisory bodies would replace existing authorities, including The Expert Knowledge Panel which will review all of the marine estates.Asked if this meant the number of current marine estates could actually be reduced, Mr Hodgkinson replied: "That would be up to the panel itself".Ms Hodgkinson said no new marine parks would be created because of a five-year-moratorium initiated in 2011 after the government supported a bill introduced by the Shooters and Fishers Party.It sparked accusations the government was playing politics with the state's marine parks to get its controversial public sector wages laws passed.Ms Hodgkinson on Tuesday denied the easing of restrictions on marine parks was the result of lobbying from the minor party.Opposition environment spokesman Luke Foley accused the government of making another "dirty deal" with the Shooters and Fishers."The O'Farrell government has today ripped away protections for protected marine parks in NSW - against the advice of its own independent scientific audit committee," he said."This is the premier's latest deal with the Shooters and Fishers Party, coming hot on the heels of amateur hunting in our national parks."Mr Foley said the independent audit had supported the importance of 'no-take' zones to rebuild the stocks of endangered marine life."A paltry four per cent was off-limits. Now, not even this is safe from Barry O'Farrell and the Shooters," he said.http://www.news.com....9#ixzz2NIUoqEo4

[Tacklebags 404]

The report recommended maintaining the current system of marine parks and increasing protection in two marine bio-regions.

It was a great report that had about the most balanced position I have read on said topic. Still didn't stop the green groups from trying to cherry pick certain points in their press releases following the report. This report also stated that the social and economic consequences of the existing NSW MPA plan was not factored in fairly for stakeholders.

"There is little or no scientific basis for preventing line fishing from land," she told reporters on Tuesday

I have fished the south coast of NSW a fair bit and landbased fishing is popular so I see no difference for landbased SA line fishing if this is the case?

Ms Hodgkinson said two new advisory bodies would replace existing authorities, including The Expert Knowledge Panel which will review all of the marine estates.

The existing marine park authorities were not popular with many coastal communities because of the manner in which they policed and made decisions on environmental issues such as the badly needed dredging of river mouths etc.The NSW Liberals handed policing within MPA's back to their fisheries department (from memory) and are now implementing change to consolidate management as the nine existing MPA authorities were running seperate regimes across their indivisual MPA's. SA MPA's will be managed and policed by DENR from my knowledge? Personally, I would rather see PIRSA fisheries better funded to police these areas in SA if this is the situation?

"The O'Farrell government has today ripped away protections for protected marine parks in NSW - against the advice of its own independent scientific audit committee," he said."This is the premier's latest deal with the Shooters and Fishers Party, coming hot on the heels of amateur hunting in our national parks."

Errr...no they didn't rip away protections. They found some cause and effect rationalism based on the expert advise given for landbased line fishing.Lastly....only a few National PArks out of hundreds in NSW were opened up for hunting so there is a massive political generalisation being exploited here to try and convice the navel gazers.

[Just Me 0]

A few knob jockeys over a cafe latte..."We'll announce the biggest marine park bs the world has ever seen, nay...the UNIVERSE, then when all the back slapping and hand jobbing dies down we'll quietly loosen the noose again sighting 'mis-understood science' and we gave it a 'better look, just to be sure....'"

[Tacklebags 404]

A few knob jockeys over a cafe latte..."We'll announce the biggest marine park bs the world has ever seen' date=' nay...the UNIVERSE, then when all the back slapping and hand jobbing dies down we'll quietly loosen the noose again sighting 'mis-understood science' and we gave it a 'better look, just to be sure....'"[/quote']It certainly may appear that way JM on the face of it. However, the original MPA plans/rulings were made under Bob Carr's Labor 10 years ago if I remember correctly?Bob Carr pretty much funded the rise of Cate Faehrmann (NSW Greens Minister) through her then position as the NSW Environmental Defenders Office CEO.The NSW EDO recently put out a call for funding as the Liberals refuse to fund these entities.The scientific/political basis for exclusion of all types of fishing has changed since then.

[wisdom 0]

Well there sure is a message in all this and obviously the current mob will not change their views on MP's or other fishing issues related to anglers. Particularly land based access, jetty fishing and a host of other issues such as artificial reefs etc.What's the message.........simple, get a guarantee from the opposition party ( whether you like them or not ), to change the rules and support anglers then convey that ( if positive ),to all and sundry and loudly. See Vicki Chapman ( deputy leader ? ),who comes from a fishing family !

[Tacklebags 404]

Well there sure is a message in all this and obviously the current mob will not change their views on MP's or other fishing issues related to anglers. Particularly land based access' date=' jetty fishing and a host of other issues such as artificial reefs etc.What's the message.........simple, get a guarantee from the opposition party ( whether you like them or not ), to change the rules and support anglers then convey that ( if positive ),to all and sundry and loudly. See Vicki Chapman ( deputy leader ? ),who comes from a fishing family ![/quote']MPA's are mainly about politics and to a certain extent social science but they really have little environmental scientific principals other than the fact that if you don't fish an area, some demersal species increase in biomass.How much increase within any sanctuary zone for demersals like lobster and coral trout depends on the existing fisheries management regime, the targeted pressure on that particular species in the area and all other detrimental factors both anthropogenic or natural which affect the zone.I have heard the cries from NSW environmentalists over this NSW decision. They say it is purely political not scientific. However, bans on 'all forms of fishing' was a political decision and so were the desicions providing exemptions to/promoting other threats in these same areas such as commercial tourism. MPA's have merit but are largely corrupted by bias politics: pro mining, anti fishing, pro diving, pro tourism, anti mining and pro fishing perspectives. Its all there and because of this reality, change in policy such as what has been annouced in NSW is inevitable.